Velier Beenleigh Fine Australian Rum 2013

Great, fruity Beenleigh, characterized by citrus, apple and raisin. An additional main component is found in floral and flowery notes. Ultimately complemented by caramel, chocolate and vanilla. In the mouth and finish, a little more hot spices, citrus and chocolate. A solid and thoroughly complex rum that convinces me.

Rum and chocolate tasting and Australia from Rum Club Switzerland. A nose of tropical fruit (banana, pineapple), citrus, varnished wood and sweetness (pastries). A floral note completes the nose. The palate has a fairly soft, spicy attack, with cedar, fruit and floral notes emerging later. The finish is medium, with fruit and wood on the finish. Empty glass, fruit and wood varnish in harmony. A beautifully balanced rum. It lacks a little depth, but it's very well made and a pleasure to drink.

The best of the 3 Velier Beenleighs for me, but still not a good rum. The nose hints at yellow fruit or dried fruit. Then the watery, alcoholic base note on the palate. Perhaps the freshly opened bottles are also to blame. Will definitely get a 2nd and 3rd chance.

A powerful and spicy rum where ginger, pomegranate and fig dominate. The aftertaste is long with flavors of cherry, apricot and almond as well as licorice 😋

Tasted the three Velier Beenleigh from the good little bottles together with DomM. My first impression is that not everything that says Velier on it is good. If the St. James range was already a flop, the Beenleigh range follows on seamlessly for me. Maybe I just don't understand this profile or have no taste, but they were all too alcoholic for me and had a bitter (not pleasant) aftertaste. The 2006 was slightly better than the other two, but not by much.

I like it better on the second tasting. Nice citrus and orange notes on the nose, coupled with vanilla and spice. Alcohol well integrated. The same aromas on the palate. Nice attack, then unfortunately flattens out quickly.

2015 / 2013 / 2006 side-by-side from the freshly opened bottles. While I have to admit, that Australia isn’t my favorite origin, the both younger bottlings really aren’t my cup of tea. Rather sharp and alcohol forwards. Citrus, apples, pear are dominating. Same is true for the 2006. Here the overall balance is much better, however. While the 2006 is enjoyable, I’m no fan of the younger one. That is from the open bottle. As with past experience in this side-by-side, the Bennleighs improve significantly after a couple of weeks in the opened bottle. 2013 and 2006 show much more rich fruits and a more balanced profile with significant less sting. Easily +0.5 points after some oxidation. The 2015 just remains underwhelming. Better than before but still sharp and not really pleasant imho.

Alcohol very well integrated. Beautiful fruity citrus component.

78 points. Lots of citrus fruits, a little vanilla, spices and some chocolate. Not my favourite flavour profile but decent with my cigar.

A pretty Australian rum with many hidden and unsuspected sides. The nose is lined with violets, perfuming the nostrils with their freshness. Citrus (orange) and dried fruit (grape) add a tonic touch, while toasty wood, sweet spices (vanilla), molasses, honey and caramel focus on gluttony and opulence. A very pleasant, fragrant rum. The palate is lively and full-bodied. Flowers are the first to appear on the palate, followed by spices (pepper, vanilla), wood and caramel notes. Fruit follows in a mixture of tropical fruit marmalade, citrus and dried fruit. A hint of dark chocolate adds roundness and finesse. The alcohol is well integrated. The finish is very long, with a great aromatic palette and complexity. First comes orange zest, then spices, wood, roasted notes, dark chocolate and camphor take over. Finally, the violet returns with its lovely veil that perfumes the finish. A lovely Beenleigh, delicate, full-bodied and very good value for money.

My 2nd Beenleigh and again I associate this with Bourbon. Rather sweet and fruity on the nose, with spice gradually taking over on the palate, first joined by sweetness bit getting drier and woody. A nice drink for certain. Nose: Dominated by orange, after pouring, and after aeriation also by peach and apricot. Then quite new wood, syrup and caramel. Less present are vanilla, and spice (nutmeg), and varnish. Taste: full-bodied and assertive, so I use some water. Spicy and sweet. Ginger, pepper, nutmeg. Syrup, dark sugar, caramel. Cherry, apricot, and quite some wood. Finish: long, now mainly spicy and leas sweet, with the wood picking up. Less on fruit now.

Another example of a bottle that needs air to really grow to its fullest potential. Upon opening I did not think much of it, and if scored then it would have barely broken the 7 threshold. Now at 2/3s with about two months of air in it; a very different experience. Fruity, flowery and -above all- dry nose. With top notes of bitter orange, roasted nuts and wet clay it opens dry and mineral. A display of apples and peaches follows up into a malty, caramelised backbone. Geranium flowers i.a. introduce a lovely complexity. In the mouth a more concentrated version of the nose. Fruits and flowers are dialed down a bit in favor of wood, malt and caramel. Less dry than the nose suggested, but way more spicy with peppers and a hint of coriander. The finish is short and sweet, lacking intricacy and thus a little incomplete for my taste.

Good beenleigh. Overall, however, a little too metallic for me. Somewhat one-dimensional and not quite as complex as I am otherwise accustomed to from beenleigh. The remaining velier beenleighs please me much better. Would not be a rum of which I would voluntarily pour me a 2nd sip....

#5526 02.08.2025 Running a few samples while watching Bad Boys - Ride or Die. Nose Light wood, faint smoke, orange, light floral, light cinnamon, faint banana. Palate Fresh, light oily, medium intense, light wood, cinnamon, light banana, orange, light berries. Finish Medium long, light wood, vanilla, light caramel, light cinnamon, light ginger. Empty glass Ginger, berries, caramel, faint leather, light mint.

A solid Beenleigh, with all the markers of post-pombe era, especially the agrumes strong note that in my opinion is the main beenleigh trait. Still its profile gets me bored easily. It's not usual for me to have a second sip of this one.